Nunavut Arctic College Environmental Technology Program senior instructor Jason Carpenter and Nunavut Research Institute Senior Science Officer Mary Ellen Thomas present the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency David Johnston, with a copy of the book The Arctic Sky. The book was presented to His Excellency for the Rideau Hall Library in honour of his first official visit to Nunavut. The Governor General is visiting Nunavut from August 15-21, 2011.

OTTAWA—Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will conduct an official visit to Nunavut from August 15 to 21, 2011.

“As a vital part of our collective history, there is much we can learn from the Inuit culture,” said His Excellency David Johnston. “My wife, Sharon, and I look forward to meeting with Nunavummiut families and community leaders, to hearing their stories about what Canada means to them, and to learning of the challenges they face in preserving their heritage. We are eager to exchange ideas on their sense of community and the innovative ways to build a smarter, more caring Canadian North.”

During their first official visit to Nunavut, Their Excellencies will travel to all three regions of the territory: Qikiqtaaluk (or Baffin), Kivalliq and Kitikmeot. Their Excellencies will also travel to the communities of Qikiqtarjuaq and Kugaaruk, two communities never before visited by a governor general.

The Abandoned Mines Project, led by Memorial University's Dr. Arn Keeling of Geography and Dr. John Sandlos of History, is in Rankin Inlet from August 8-15th with a team of Inuit participants, researchers, and local students, to examine the impacts of the historic Rankin Inlet Nickel Mine on the community.

Fifty First Nation and Inuit youth from across Canada will gather in Iqaluit this week to take part in the 2011 National Aboriginal Science and Technology Camp, where they will learn about science, traditional knowledge, cultural awareness and more.

The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) announces that the summer 2011 issue of IASC Progress is available. Highlights include:

• Indian Research in the Arctic: Collaborative Research on Ny-Alesund;
• From Carl Weyprecht to the Future Polar Research Institute--A Long History of Austrian Activities in the Arctic;
• Czech Contributions to Polar Science; and
• The Snow, Water, Ice, and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) Project.

The newsletter is available on the IASC website, at: http://iasc.arcticportal.org/index.php/home/service/media/print.